Canberra, Australia + Add a trip

Cream Cafe in Civic

Great coffee. Great sourdough toast. Free wireless - just ask a waiter/waitress and they'll give you the WPA key.

Three Mothers Thai

Great food at a good price! The Toong Tongs are about the best I've had anywhere. Highly recommended!

Belconnen Fresh Food Markets

If you’re north-side, the Beclconnen Fresh Food Markets are great for good, well-priced food. There are also two delicatessen stores which offer imported traditional European goods, several small cafés, a pet store and of course everything involving veggies, fish, meat and so forth.

Paintball, cycling, and coffee

If you’re feeling up to it, there’s a great woodland paintball field out at Pialligo Pines, past the airport.

Canberra also has a lot of cycling paths making it quite possible to travel by bike through most of the city. Some of the treks also extend through parks; it’s a beautiful way to see Canberra if you enjoy cycling.

Otherwise, the place to have chill and coffee in Civic is Gus’ or Essen, who live side-by-side coming off Bunda St. All nearby are little cafés and restaurants, most with decent pricing.

Lanterne Rooms in Campbell shops is somewhere you will never find unless you know to look for it. The food is awesome also.

The Chairman & Yip - Amazing - Bunda St, City - www.thechairmanandyip.com

Ramas - Fijian/Indian - again amazing food great little spot a little out of town though - Cnr Macfarland & Hodgson Crs, Pearce

Gus's Cafe - always a tradition

I really like Mecca Bah in Manuka

A little bit out of town (juts off the federal highway), but well worth the drive! the Linwood cafe at Collector - amazing local fresh produce - lovely setting - a nice afternoon and easy drive in and out of town, or nice to stop in on your way back from Sydney

Another vote for Ramas for great Fijian-Indian food. Kopi Tiam in Manuka for great Malaysian. Sammy's in Civic and Ginseng at the Hellenic club in Woden for good value Chinese. The Italian deli at Fyshwick markets has good pizza and ridiculously thick hot chocolates. And for breakfast, Silo in Kingston, Delissio in Braddon and Milk and Honey in Civic are worth trying.

A wide range of options for vegans and vegetarians (naturally!). Rainbow breakfast is very tasty, with scrambled tofu - you can also ask for there not to be any "not bacon". There's also a raspberry lassi which has rosewater and is quite rich. On Saturdays there is usually a 3 man band outside it who perform a particularly stirring rendition of "Moondance". A lot of interesting shops in the vicinity.

Remember to look out for the turn-off for Collector as it's difficult to turn around sometimes! After you've enjoyed something at the Lynwood Cafe, check out the Pumpkin Festival (if it's the right time of year), or go up the road and have a look at the wall sculpture. There's also a gallery/bookshop opposite the sculpture.

[and a drink as well] :) Try and sit near the noticeboard if you like to have something else to look at. There's a courtyard out the back, and it's often worth reserving a table. Best item is a chocolate risotto with yoghurt (breakfasts) and you may like their range of unusual cakes.

The tastiness of the food is only matched by the poor quality of the service.

Try the halva icecream!

The garlic mushrooms are very nice, but the pancakes/crepes are very small and expensive.

Sitting inside isn't always a good choice as they acoustics aren't the best.

The burritos are excellent, esp. with chipotle sauce.

Great big breakfast!

Called in for a cuppa and scones. Best thing we did that day

This is a great restaurant for vegetarians - there is a separate, very comprehensive vegetarian menu (unfortunately this is not reflected well on their website, but trust me, it is there!).

The ManTau bread is quite interesting, I would suggest getting a few entrees to share (including the flash fried tofu) and then dessert. The Indian Kulfi icecream mixes pepper and pineapple and is really yummy.